By Tom Frary
Joseph O'Brien can do no wrong this year and the irresistible momentum continued to The Curragh on Saturday with a one-two in the G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes led by The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation's Green Empress (Saxon Warrior).
Held up early by Dylan Browne McMonagle, the 11-4 second favourite who had been second to Sun Goddess in her maiden and the Airlie Stud Stakes was delivered late to swamp Ballydoyle's front-running 4-6 favourite Alpha (Sea The Stars) and stablemate Dancing Destiny (Magna Grecia). At the line, she had a neck to spare over the latter as Alpha faded to be a further half length away in third.
“Her form has worked out very well and Dylan gave her a lovely ride,” the winning trainer said. “I'm really delighted for Prince Faisal to be able to be here. To win the Debutante is very special for us and for him,. She had a bit of a setback after her last run, so we thought that fitness-wise she probably would need the race today. She'll probably come back here for the Moyglare.”
McMonagle, who would go on to compete a five-timer on the card, believes the Moyglare is the way to go. “She's a very exciting filly–she was coming off a bit of a break and her form with Sun Goddess has really stacked up,” he said. “I thought mine was going to take a big step forward again from that and the step up to seven was always going to be a big help. I said I'd wait and count to ten before making my move and I nearly had to wait a minute before I got out! Once I did, she responded so well. She's always shown us plenty, she's got loads of speed and gets this seven well so the Moyglare would be a perfect fit.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Alpha, “We were happy, we didn't want to blow her head today ahead of the Moyglare and she will be able to go a notch quicker there, so that will be interesting. Joseph's fillies are good and this was part of the programme. We think our fillies will progress from this.”
Perfect timing once again from that man @DylanBrowneMcM 🎯
Four races down and an incredible four-timer for the champion jockey as Green Empress (Saxon Warrior) lands the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes @curraghrace @JosephOBrien2 pic.twitter.com/CEkZPUjAoA
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 22, 2026
Pedigree Notes
Green Empress is the second foal out of Sea Empress (Sea The Stars), whose first was the Lake George Stakes winner Amberglen (Night Of Thunder). The third dam is the Listed-placed Bergamask (Kingmambo), who produced Exceed And Excel's Coventry Stakes winner and Middle Park Stakes runner-up Buratino, while the family features the Phoenix Stakes and National Stakes hero and leading sire Danehill Dancer. Sea Empress's yearling colt by Space Blues sells at the upcoming Tattersalls Ireland September, while she also has a colt foal by Sioux Nation.
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